Dispensing cigar package



June 22, 1965 B. J. TAMARlN DISPENSING CIGAR PACKAGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR. ZE/PII IIPD J, TAMA/P/A/ Filed June 30, 1964 June 22, 1965 B. J. TAMARIN DISPENSING CIGAR PACKAGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 30, 1964 IN VEN T OR.

559M490 J. ZZI/VAR/IV June 22, 1965 B. J. TAMARIN DISPENSING CIGAR PACKAGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 30, 1964 June 22, 1965 B. J. TAMARIN DISPENSING CIGAR PACKAGE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 30, 1964 INVENTOR. fifP/VJPD MMAIF/A /7Q-r L/a'ow United States Patent 3,190,437 DISPENSKNG CIGAR PACKAGE Bernard J. Tamarin, Whitemarsh, Pa, assignor, by direct and mesne assignments, to Pull-Packaging, Inc, Phiiadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed June 3t), 1964, Ser. No. 379,146 19 Claims. (Ci. 266-412) This invention relates to the packaging of cigars or like articles and concerns especially the dispensing of such generally cylindrical articles from packages in which they are arranged side by side. As to certain of the packages or package components disclosed herein the present application is a continuation-in-part of my prior copending applications: Serial No. 355,117 filed March 26, 1964, for Packaging of Cigars or the Like, and Serial No. 35 8,- 225, filed April 8, 1964, for Cigar Packaging or the Like.

A conventional type of cigar package contains several cigars arranged in a row side by side in a relatively stiff boxlike container having a covering end flap openable to permit removal of the contents. Such a container is usually rectangular on the sides and ends (i.e., parallelepipedal) and has such an end flap joined to one wide side wall, folded across the end surface, and tucked at its free end inside along the opposite wide side wall. Such containers have numerous disadvantages, including difficulty of opening and of withdrawing a cigar therefrom, especially when full, loss of rigidity and exposure or even spillage of the contents when open and diificuity of reclosing and insuiricient rigidity even when reclosed.

A primary object of the present invention is provision of a dispensing cigar package or the like.

- Another object is provision of such a package wherein dispensingof the contents is initiated by removal of part of a surrounding sheath of laminar material.

' A further object is provision of such a package wherein at least one cigar is elevated into protruding position automatically upon otherwise conventional removal of the top half or so of the sheath.

Other objects of this invention, together with means and methods for attaining the various objects, will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying diagrams, which illustrate various embodiments of the same.

FIG. la is a side elevation of a cigar;

FIG. 1b is a side elevation of a cigar like that of FIG. 1 encased in a laminar wrapper;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of a sheet of laminar material with rip tape thereon,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cigar package, shown closed;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a cigar package like that of FIG. 3 sheathed in laminar material like that of FIG. 2 and having juxtaposed thereto means for securing a portion of the sheathing material to the underlying material;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cigar package like that of FIG. 4 but with the outer sheath thereof at a stage of being subdivided into separate parts by means of the rip tape;

FIG. 6 is a sectional elevation through an upper portion of the package of FIG. 5, taken at VI-VI thereon; and

' FIG. 7 is a similar sectional elevation taken at a subsequent intermediate stage in the opening of the package, when the upper part of the outer sheath is being removed.

FEG. 8 is a perspective view of another package embodiment of the present invention (with hands superimposed) at a corresponding intermediate stage in opening, when the upper part of the sheath is being removed;

FIG. 9 is a similar perspective View, partly cut away to show the interior, of the embodiment of FIG. 8 but shown open after removal of the upper part of the outer sheath;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an upper portion of a further package embodiment of this invention at an intermediate stage in opening corresponding to that shown in FIG. 8 for the last previous embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a similar perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 10 but shown open after removal of the upper part of the outer sheath;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an upper part of yet another package embodiment of this invention before opening; and

FIG. 13 is a similar perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 12 but shown at an intermediate stage in opening.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of yet a further package embodiment of the present invention, shown closed;

FIG. 15 is a similar perspective view of the package of FIG. 14 at an intermediate stage in opening;

FIG. 16 is a similar perspective view of the same package shown open; and

FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing the back of the closed package of FIG. 14.

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of still another package embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 is a similar perspective view of the package of FIG. 18 at an intermediate stage in opening;

FIG. 20 is a similar perspective view of the same package, shown open; and

FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing the back of the closed package of FIG. 18.

In general, the objects of the present invention are accomplished, in a portable package for generally cylindrical articles arranged side by side by means of an end closure openable to dispense at least one of the articles, an opening through a side wall alongside at least one of the articles to 'be dispensed, and a laminar sheath covering at least the opening and the end closure, a portion of the sheath located remote from the edge of the opening nearest the end closure being bonded to one of the articles through the opening. According to the invention, the step or" removing at least part of the sheath, including the bonded portion, acts to propel the article bonded thereto forcibly endwise against the openable portion from the inside to open it, whereupon the article protrudes therethrough and may be removed completely from the package in any convenient manner.

FIG. 1a shows, in side elevation, cigar 10, without the usual transparent laminar wrapper or jacket in which cigars are placed for sale. FIG. 1b shows in like View wrapped cigar 1.1, which exemplifies the individually jack eted condition of the packaged cigars shown in the subsequent views. It will be understood that each cigar also may be encircled by a paper band, as is customary but not shown here.

FIG. 2 shows, in perspective and on a reduced'scale,

I edge of opening 16 in container 15.

terial traversed from side to side by rip tapel3 located I on the rear surface thereof and extendinga short dis tance past the right 'edge. An intermediate part of the laminar material and the rip tape is broken away to aid in conserving space.

FIG. 3 shows, in perspective, relatively rigid container in conventional parallelepipedal form with rectangular opening 16, centered from side to side in the upper part of the wide front Wall, through which portions ofseveral cigars 11 are visible. V

FIG. 4 shows, also in perspective, package 21 formed by sheathing container 15 and its contents in sheet 12 of sheathing material and sealing it. Superimposed at the front is arm 18, whichhas bonding head 19 on the end thereof. Contact of the head with the underlying portion of the. sheath presses it against the underlying material and seals it thereto. As shown in solid lines the head would secure the sheath to the center cigar by way ofits individual wrapper or jacket. When the-respective sheath and wrapper materials areheat sealing,'the head is heated and secures them together upon contact. If desired, a pressure-sensitive or other adhesive may be applied at the desired location on one or the other (or both) before the sheathing is completed, and contact pressure of the head is sufiicient to secure them. Other adhesives may be used, if desired; a suitable vinyl adhesive for this purpose is sold by Hermetite Corporationnnder the designation 911 C. The location of resultant bonding,'-Whether accomplished by adhesive, or heat-sealing, is indicated in subsequent views by stippling. Shown in phantom in FIG. 4 is an alternative location of the arm and bonding head, such as may be empl'oyedifit is desired to secure the part of the sheath below the rip tape to' the underlying container itself in like manner. Of course, itwill be apparent that the arm may be moved, or the bonding head elongated,

ence to another embodiment require little or no further description to render them and the illustration thereby thoroughly understood. For example, separated upper part 12a of the outer sheath having been mentioned above, it will be apparent that numerals 112a, 212a, 312a, etc. refer to corresponding parts of further package embodimerits.

FIG. 8 shows, in perspective, package embodiment 121 at a stage in being opened corresponding to the stage shown in the immediately preceding view. A left hand is shown holding the lower part of the package, while a right hand is gripping upper part 112:: of the outer sheath and withdrawing it upward from container 115. Three cigars 111 are secured theretoto that upper, part of the sheath at bonding locations 126, which have nearly reached the upper edge: of openingllo in the front of the container. Tuck flap 12-5 at the topof the container is being opened by forcible contact with the top ends of the three cigars so raised against its' inside surface.

cigars and the portion of the outersheath secured thereto to secure to the sheath through the opening in the front wall of the container a plurality of cigars ll rather than.

just the centermost one as suggested in this view;

FIG. 5 (shows, in respective, package 21 with outersheath 12separated into two parts 12a and 12b bymeans of ri-p tape 13, leaving narrow gap'23'between upper part 12a and lower part12b of the sheath. The upper part of the sheath covers opening 16 incontainer 15 and the containerv top (in which there is an openable closure, as Stippling superimposed on the centermost cigar (ofwhich part is visible't-hrough opening 16) at bonding location 26 near the'loweredge shown in subsequent views).

of the openingindicates the place Where the cigar wrapper is secured to the overlying sheath portion, as shown in more detail in the next view. 5

FIG. 6 shows, in side'sectional elevation, the upper 5 of the previous relatively large opening centeredin the wasbr-oken by interposition of the edge of the container at the top of opening 121:6.

"FIG. 10 shows, in perspective, the upper two thirds or so of package 221, which differs from package 121 only in having the tuck fl-ap divided into left and right portions 225a and 2250 (shown closed) and intermediate portion 225b, which is being opened by contact with the end of centermost cigar 211 secured to partially withdrawn upper part 212a of-the outer sheath at bonding location 216 (shown stip-pled). The remaining cigars, not being bonded 40- to the sheath, remain in place, as do flap portions 225a and 2250. The upper part of the sheathis withdrawn completely, breaking the bond, to open the package, as shown in FIG. 11; a a

Flap 125 of packagelll'and flap. portion 22512 of package 221 may be reclosed readily after extraction of whatever number of cigars may be desired, all of them at once in the first instance. or one at a time in the second instance. Subsequent opening may be accomplished readily by manipulating a cigar (properly positioned in the latter instance) upward by contact through the opening in the container, as will be'apparent. Alternatively, if desired, the flap or portion thereof may be torn-01f to i leave the top wholly or partly open.

raising cigar 11 secured thereto at bonding location .26,

which is shown as the'relative movement is about to inter pose the upper edge of opening 16between the Wrapped cigar and the overlying sheath portion at the bonding location and vthereby separate them from one another.

Actual dispensing of one or more, cigars is illustrated in sponding features of the package already described and illustrated. In this way primary attention is focused uponvariation in features, and those once described by refer FIG. 12 shows, in perspective, the upper half or so of package 321 whose'lower part (not shown) may be like that of any previously illustrated embodiment. Instead upper part of the'container, inthis embodiment narrow opening. 317 is located near the right edge in the front wall o'f'the container, exposing to view (through the overlying upper part 312a ofthe transparent sheath) part of the rightmost'cigar contained therein; The sheath is secured to that cigar at bonding 1ocation326 near the bottom edge of the opening Immediately above that cigar circular perforated line 331 circumscribes disclikeportion 339 having thereon bonding location 322 Where the upper part of thejsheath is secured to the. top of the container- 1 FIG. '13, shows, alsoin perspective, the appearance of package 321" after upperpartiSlZa of the outerfsheath has been withdrawnupwa'rd from the top of container 315. The upward movement of cigar 311 secured to the sheath against disc-likepo'rtio'n 3:30" of the top at the location formerly circumscribed byithe perforated line ruptured the'imperforateportions, and the top end of cigar 311 container. As the disc-like portion is also secured to the sheath it will be discarded therewith when fully withdrawn from the top of the container. The protruding cigar may be removed readily through the opening left by removal of disc-like portion 336, and the rest of the cigars contained in the open package may be shaken to that same position and be removed one after another as desired.

FIGS. 14 through 17 and FIGS. 18 through 21 show the present invention in two additional packages utilizing types of containers with swingably mounted closures disclosed in greater detail in my respective copending applications: Serial No. 355,117, filed March 26, 1964, for Packaging of Cigars or the Like; and Serial No. 358,225, filed April 8, 1964, for Cigar Packaging or the Like. In the first type the openable closure is swingably openable along a hinge line crossing the flap substantially perpendicular to its junction to the side wall and spaced therefrom at least the width of a cigar, by forcible contact with an end of a cigar from the inside. In the second type a plurality of adjacent closure portions are hinged apart from one another and are swingably openable together by forcible contact of the end of one of the cigars against the closure from the inside. Foldable blanks for use in forming such containers are disclosed in the respective specifications of those applications, which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIG. 14 shows, in perspective, package 421 in which opening 417 is located near the right edge of the front wall of the sheathed container, similar to the corresponding opening'in the last previous embodiment. The top of the container visible through the transparent sheath has minor portion 427 above end nost cigar 411 (partially visible through opening 4-17) and adjacent major portion 429, the boundary between these two portions of the top being defined by fold line 428 paralleling the nearby narrow edge of the top and spaced therefrom a distance somewhat more than the width of a single cigar. Rip tape 413 surrounds the completed package underneath outer sheath 512 in like manner as the corresponding rip tape was found in the package embodiment first illustrated.

FIG. 15 shows the same package after removal of the rip tape and at an intermediate stage in the removal of upper part 412a of the outer sheath. The accompanying u'pwardmovement of cigar 411 secured to the upper part of the sheath at bonding location 426 is forcing open the visible spoutlike end closure, which is formed in part by top portion 427. With continued upward movement of the upper part of the sheath and the cigar secured thereto, the top end of the cigar forces the closure open and the cigar protrudes through the opening so provided. Upon separation of the upper part of the sheath from the wrapped cigar as the bonding location reaches the top edge of opening 417 in container 415, that part of the sheath is withdrawn completely from the top of the package and normally discarded. FKG. 16 represents the resulting appearance of the package, with the cigar protruding for ready removal therefrom.

FIG. 17 shows, in perspective, the back of package 421, closed as in the corresponding front view of FIG. 14. Located in the back wall of the sheathed container is opening 419, which is opposite similar opening 417 in the front wall. Cigar 411 visible therethrough is secured to the sheath through opening 419 at another bonding location 426 located opposite the like bonding location on the opposite side.

FIG. 18 shows, in perspective, package 521, with rip I tape 513 in place, which closely resembles the package of the first embodiment, shown in FIG. 4. This package differs from that previous one by division of the top surface of the sheathed container by medial transverse slit 535, which divides the top into left half made up of major portion 532 and minor portion 534 with fold line 533 intervening and right half made up of minor portion 536 and major portion 533 with fold line 537 intervening.

PEG. 19 shows package 52-1 at an intermediate stage in opening, after removal of the rip tape and with upper part 512a of the outer sheath partly withdrawn. Upward movement of cigar 511 secured to the upper part of the sheath at bonding location 526 has folded minor portions 534- and 536 of the top of container 51.5 upward along respective fold lines 533 (concealed in this view) and 537 to form a bifurcated end closure partially opened. The opening is being effected by contact with the top end of the cigar against the inside surface of each openable portion. The fully open condition of this package, after removal of the upper part of the outer sheath is shown in FIG. 20, in which the two openable portions of the end closure have swung apart sufficiently to permit the cigar to protrude therebetween for ready removal. FIG. 21 shows, in perspective, the back of package 521, closed as in the corresponding front view of FIG. 18. Relatively narrow opening 518 centered from side to side enables centermost cigar 511 to be secured to the upper part of outer sheath 512. at bonding location 526 located opposite the like bonding location at the front of the package.

The use of opposing openings, as in the containers of the last two package embodiments, which permits securing of a cigar to the outer sheath at opposing bonding locations, is helpful in ensuring satisfactory opening of the closure upon removal of the upper part of the sheath. Of course, similarly opposing openings may be employed in previously illustrated embodiments,as well. Regardless of whether one or more such openings are used and regardless of the type of openable closure employed, the advantages of the packages of this invention are apparent. One or more cigars are dispensed practically automatically upon conventional separation of the outer sheath into a plurality of parts and removal of one such part from over the openable closure. While several package embodiments have been described, some having certain additional benefits, other modifications having some of the same and possibly other advantages and benefits may be employed with similar convenience and results. Parts may be altered in size, shape, or number, subdivided or multiplied, or modified in composition without involving a departure from the invention defined in the following claims.

The claimed invention:

1. Method of dispensing generally cylindrical articles from a package having an opening through a side wall alongside at least one of the articles and having in an end wall an openable portion through which such an article may be dispensed, comprising sheathing at least the opening and the openable portion of the package with a laminar material, bonding a portion of the sheath so formed to at least one of the articles through the opening, and removing at least part of the sheath including the bonded portion in a direction to propel the article bonded thereto against the openable portion of the package to open it.

2. Method of dispensing generally cylindrical articles from a package comprising providing an opening through a side wall of the package so as to be located alongside at least one of the articles when filled and providing in an end wall an openable portion through which such an article may be dispensed, sheathing the package with a laminar material, bonding a portion of the sheath so formed to at least one of the articles through the opening, and removing at least part of the sheath including the bonded portion in a direction to propel the article bonded thereto against the opena'ble portion of the package to open it and protrude therefrom.

3. Method of dispensing generally cylindrical articles from a package having an opening through a side wall alongside at least one of the articles and having in an end wall an openable portion through which such an articl may be dispensed and having also a surround-ing sheath of laminar material, comprising bonding a portion of the sheath to one of the articles through the opening at a location remote from the edge of the opening nearest the ii openable portion, moving at least part of the sheathineluding the bonded portion toward the openable portion and thereby propelling the, article'bonded thereto against from the inside, a side wall having an' opening therethe openable portion to open it.

4. A portable pack-agefor generally cylindrical articles arranged side by side, having an end closure openable to dispense at least one of the articles, with an opening through a side wall alongside at least'one of the articles to be dispensed through the end closure, a lamina-r sheath I covering at least the opening and the end closure, and

means for bonding a portion of the sheath to one of the articlesthrough the opening;

5. A portable package for generally cylindrical articles arranged side byside, having an end closure openable to dispense at least One of the articles, with an opening through a side Wall alongside atleast one of the articles to be dispensed through the end closure, a laminar sheath 1 one of the parts being adapted to be withdrawn over the lindrical articles arranged side by side, covered by a tuck flap having a portion thereof openable by forcible contact of an end of one of the articles. against the closure through alongside that article, a laminar sheath covering at least-the opening and the end closure, the sheath having a porti-on'thereof bonded to that article through the opening and at a location therethrough spaced from the edge thereof nearest .the end closure. 4

' 13. In a a portable package, a plurality of generally cylindrical articles arrangedside by side,'anend closure comprising a tuck flap openable by forcible contact of an end ofa plurality of the articles thereagainst from the inside,a side wall having an opening therethrough alongside'that plurality of articles, a laminar sheath covering at least the opening and the end closure, the sheath having a portion thereof bonded to that plurality of articles through the opening and at a location therethrough spaced from the edge thereof nearest the .end closure, and the sheath being divisible into a plurality of separate parts,

; end closure and to propel thearticles bonded thereto into arranged side by side, having an end closure openable to dispense at least one of the articles, with an opening through a side Wall alongside at least one of the articles to be dispensed through the'endclosure, a laminar sheath one of the articles through the opening at a location re- ,7

mote from the edge of the opening nearest the endclosure. t 7. In a portable package for generally cylindrical art-icles arranged side by side, an end closure openable to dispense at least one of the articles, an opening through a side wall alongside at least one of the articles'of be d-i-spensed, anda' laminar sheath covering at least the open-.

ing and the end closure, a portion of the sheath located remote from the edgeiof the opening nearest the endclosure being bonded to one of the articles through the opening. I

8. The package of claim 7 wherein the articles have; 7

9. The package of claim 7 wherein the laminar sheath is heat-scalable and the articles have heat-scalable indi vidual wrappers surrounding each ofthern inside'the package, and the bonding of a portion of the sheath to one of the articles comprises a heat-sealed securing, of the sheath to the wrapper of the article. t s

10. In a portable package, a pluralityt of generally cylindrical articles arranged side by side, an end closure openable by forcible contact of an end of one of the: articles against the closure fromv the inside, aside wall having an opening therethrough alongside that article, a laminar sheath covering at least theopening and the end closure, the sheath having a portion thereof bonded, to that article through the opening and at a location therethrough spaced fromthe edge thereof, nearest the end closure. c 1 T f i v 11. In a portable'package, a plurality of generally 7 cylindrical articles arranged side by side, an end closure" 'openable by forcible contactfofran end of one "of the articles against the closure from the inside, a sidewall having an opening therethrough alongside that article, a

laminar sheathhaving a portion thereof bonded to that article through the opening and at a location therethrough spaced. from the edge thereof nearest the end closure,

and the sheath being divisible into a plurality of separate" parts one ofthe parts being: adapted to bewithdrawn 12. In a portable package, a plurality of generally cyforcible 'contact atone end against the closure from the inside to open it by untucking the flap.

14. In a portable package, a plurality'of generally cylindrical articles arranged side by side, an end closure openable by forcible contact of an end of one of the articles against the closure from the inside, a side wall having an opening therethrough alongside that article, a laminar sheath covering at least the opening and the end closure, the sheath having a portion thereof shearably bonded to that article through the opening and at a location 'therethrough spaced from the edge thereof nearest the end closure, that edge being adapted to shear the bond between the sheath and'the article upon relative movement ofthe edge to and past [he bonding location.

15. In a portable package, a plurality of generally cylindrical articles arranged side by side, an endvclosure comprising a piece overlying the end andcircumscribed by a perforated line and adapted to be detached by forcible contact of an end of one of the articles against it fromrthe inside, a sideiwall having an opening therethrough alongside that article, a laminar sheath covering atleast the opening and the end closure, the sheath having a portion thereof bonded to that article through through alongside-that article, a laminar sheath covering at least the opening and'the end closure, the sheath having a 'portion thereof bonded to that article through the opening and at a location therethrough spaced from the edge thereof nearest the end closure and having the portion ofthe' sheath overlying the detachable piece bonded thereto; I c

17'. In a pottable package of rectangular plan for generally cylindrical articles arranged side by side and covered at one end by a'rectangular flap joined to a side wall, an end closure swingably openable along ahinge line spaced the widthof one of the articles froma narrow side edge of the'flap and crossing the flap substan- 'tially parallel to that side edge,'the end closure being openable byforcible contact of an'end of one-of the 7 articles against the closure from the inside, a side wall having an opening therethroughalongside that artiEle, a laminar sheath covering atleast the opening and the end closure,athe sheath having a portion thereof bonded to that article through'the opening and ate location therej through spaced fromthe edge thereof nearest the end closure 1 18. In a portable package of rectangular plan for generally cylindrical articles arranged side by side and covered at one end by a rectangular flap joined to a side wall, an end closure comprising a plurality of adjacent portions separately hinged to the rest of the flap and openable together by forcible contact of an end of one of the articles against the closure from the inside, a side wall having an opening therethrough alongside that article, a laminar sheath covering at least the opening and the end closure, the sheath having a portion thereof 10 bonded to that article through the opening and at a location therethrough spaced from the edge thereof nearest the end closure.

19. In a portable package for generally cylindrical arl0 ticles arranged side by side, an end closure openable to dispense at least one of the articles, a pair of openings through opposing side walls and flanking at least one of the articles to be dispensed, and a laminar sheath covering at least the openings and the end closure, and along side each opening a portion of the sheath located remote from the edge of the opening nearest the end closure being bonded to the flanked article through the opening.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,670,343 5/28 Clemens. 2,361,580 10/44 Waring.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner. 

7. IN A PORTABLE PACKAGE FOR GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL ARTICLES ARRANGED SIDE BY SIDE, AN END CLOSURE OPENABLE TO DISPENSE AT LEAST ONE OF THE ARTICLES, AN OPENING THROUGH A SIDE WALL ALONGSIDE AT LEAST ONE OF THE ARTICLES OF BE DISPENSED, AND A LAMINAR SHEATH COVERING AT LEAST THE OPENING AND THE END CLOSURE, A PORTION OF THE SHEATH LOCATED REMOTE FROM THE EDGE OF THE OPENING NEAREST THE END CLOSURE BEING BONDED TO ONE OF THE ARTICLES THROUGH THE OPENING. 